Bathing implement



March 24, 1936.

E. G. SCHAEFER BATHING IMPLEMENT File i Sept. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet J,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 24, 1936. E, e. SCHAEFER BATHING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. -12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 2 mfl m m MMMW W M E Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHING IMPLEMENT Edward G. Scliaefer, Hillside, N. J.

Application September 12, 1934, Serial No. 743,677

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in bathing implements; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a bathing cloth having a novel means to contain soap, and

having special features of construction whereby application of the cloth and soap to all parts of the body of the user, and especially to the back and like less accessible body parts, is greatly facilitated.

This invention has for its general object to provide an elongated soap containing bathing implement, which, when grasped by its end portions, may be briskly reciprocated across the surfaces of the users body, and especially across less accessible surfaces such as e. g. as the back and shoulder surfaces.

The invention has for more specific objects to provide, in a bathing implement for the purposes mentioned, a "main body, made of suitable cloth or other absorbent material, of elongated bandlike form, the same being provided between its extremities, and preferably in its central portion, with a soap holding pocket of novel construction which is adapted to firmly and securely retain the soap against undue shifting about, when the implement is in use; said pocket havin preferably, a novel construction of self-acting closure means for holding the mouth thereof closed against escape of the soap. Another object of the invention is to provide novel spreader means adjacent the soap pocket, whereby the body of the implement is held in laterally spread, smooth and unwr inkled condition, especially in the area of the soap pocket, so that the exudation of soapy matter through the faces of the implement is facilitated, and a more efficient application of the soapy matter to the body surfaces is assured, while at the same time the frictional application of the entire width of the implement to the body.

0 surfaces islikewise assured, and stringing, un-

due bunching and wrinkling of said implement in use is prevented.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood 45 from the following detailed description of the same. 1

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

50 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel bathing implement in partially folded up condition, and showing the manner of spreading open the mouth of the soap pocket thereof preparatory to the insertion therein or removal therefrom of a 55 soap cake.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner of using the novel bathing implement according to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a face view of the complete bathing implement; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal hori- 5 zontal section therethrough; Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal horizontal section through the soap pocket mouth taken on line 55 in Fig. 3, showing one form of a self-acting closure means therefor, this view being drawn on a somewhat en- 10 larged scale.

Fig. 6 is a face view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing a somewhat modified type and construction of bathing implement according to this invention; and Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical 16 section thereof, taken on line 1-1 in said Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary face view of an end of the bathing implement modified to provide a hand engageable loop or handle.

Similar characters of reference are employed 20 in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, the novel bathing implement according to this invention comprises an elongated and preferably rectangular body 25 comprising one or more plies, but preferably two plies Ill and II of suitable absorbent material to constitute the opposite faces thereof. The material of which the body is made preferably consists of any suitable textile fabric, either woven or 30 knitted. For example, turkish or like toweling provides an excellent material for said body; although it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many other flexible absorbent materials are capable of giving satis- 35 factory service.

The plies l0 and H of the selected body material are arranged back to back, either as separate pieces so disposed, or as a single piece folded. longitudinally upon itself to form the back to back plies. The plies thus arranged are secured together by marginal stitching l2 through the free meeting marginal portions thereof. Intermediate the ends of the body thus provided, and preferably in the central portion thereof, there is provided a pocket l3 opening at one longitudinal margin of the body. This pocket is formed by outlining stitching M which joins the plies'|0ll together. This stitching extends from the mouth opening at one side margin of the body inwardly across the latter, proceeding in a curvilinear line spaced inwardly from the opposite side margin of the body and then back to the first mentioned side margin of the body. By this arrangement, shown to best advantage in Fig. 3, a pocket of a depth less than the total width of the body is provided, so that the inner or bottom end portion of the pocket is disposed substantially intermediate the opposite longitudinal margins of the body, whereby a soap cake I5 deposited therein is positioned and maintained substantially centrally between said longitudinal margins of the body, and held by the pocket against undue shifting about, or in other words maintained in a comparatively fixed position centrally of the implement. The marginal portions of the respective plies I0 and II bounding the mouth opening of the pocket l3 are provided with suitable means for retaining the same closed together against escape of the deposited soap cake I 5 from said pocket. In preferred form, said pocket mouth closing means is of a self-acting character and comprises the following structure. Straddling and suitably secured to the respective marginal portions of the plies l0 and l I, as by stitching [6, are binding members I1 and I8 respectively provided with interior side portions l9 and 20. Said interior side portion IQ of the binding member I1 is provided with longitudinally spaced eyelets 2|; and said interior side portion 20 of the binding member I8 is also provided with eyelets 22 which register with certain of said firstmentioned eyelets 2|. An elastic closure strip 23 is anchored by its respective ends between the plies l0 and II at opposite sides of the pocket l3. This elastic closure strip, as extending from one anchored end thereof, is threaded through an outlying eyelet 2| and then through registered eyelets 2I-22 of the interior side portions l9 and 20 of the respective binding members I! and I8, extending along the same, and thence being threaded back through another pair of registered eyelets 2I22, and thence through the other outlying eyelet 2| to extend to the other anchored end thereof. By reason of its inherent longitudinal contractional tendency, said elastic closure strip 23 functions to normally and automatically draw together the binding members l1-l8 in pocket mouth closing relation (see Fig. 5). When, however, it is desired to open said pocket mouth for the insertion or removal of a soap cake l5 therethrough, the opposite marginal portions of the pocket mouth may be separated by grasping and pulling apart the respective binding members I 'l--l8 (see Fig. 1). Itwill be understood that various other types of pocket closure or fastener means are available, and would be used to close the soap pocket, as for example, the male and female snap fastener means 24-25 shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. With the preferred form of self-acting closure means constituted by the elastic closure strip, no metallic parts are involved which are subject to rusting or corrosion, or which by undue surface projection are likely to cause unpleasant rubbing sensations when the implement is used for its intended purpose; these are, therefore, additional reasons for giving preference to the described self-acting closure means.

In order to insure the substantially smooth lateral spread of the body of the implement when in use, and especially in the central areas thereof about the soap containing pocket, spreader means are incorporated with the body. In preferred form the spreader means comprises internal resilient ribs or bones 26 which are disposed between the plies lO-ll of the body to extend laterally across the same from side to side thereof, and spaced from but more or less adjacent to the sides of the soap containing pocket l3. These ribs or bones preferably comprise strips of whalebone, pyroxylin, metal or other material having the desired resilient characteristics. The said ribs are disposed in transverse pockets 2'! formed by securing together the plies l(ill of the body by rows of stitches 28. These pockets 2! are preferably reenforced at their respective ends, against escape or endwise displacement of the ribs, by reenforcing end-stitching 29 of the button-hole type. It will be obvious, owing to a degree of flexibility which the spreader members 26 possess, that the same will readily permit the body of implement to conform to more or less curved contours of the users body, while nevertheless serving to retain the main intermediate portion of the body laterally and smoothly spread as it is moved back and forth over the surfaces of the users body; and, furthermore,

such smooth spreading of the implement, especially in the area of its soap containing pocket, will assure maximum efiiciency as to the desired exudation through the walls of the pocket of soapy matter derived from the soap content of the pocket and the bathing water with which the implement is saturated when in use.

It may be desirable to provide one or both faces of the implement, especially across the soap containing pocket thereof, with material of more or less coarsely open mesh. This may be done by inserting in the body of the implement a panel or panels of the such material, comprising preferably more or less opening woven textile fabric. This is shown at 30 in Figs. 6 and '7. Such open mesh material provides a somewhat freer access and egress of water in contact with the soap content of the pocket l3, and a consequent more copious exudation of soapy material and lather. The area and extent of such panels is subject to wide variation, as will be obvious.

It is also desirable in some cases to provide hand grips at the ends of the implement to permit of a firmer grasp thereof by the user. Such hand grips may beprovided in a variety of forms. Illustrative of one form thereof, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, a slot-like opening 3| is provided transversely disposed in and adjacent to each end of the body. The marginal portions of the openings 3| are preferably reenforced by stitching 32 of the buttonhole type. Said openings 3| permit the insertion of the fingers of the users hands therethrough so that a firm nonslipping grip upon the ends of the implement is assured, and whereby the manipulation of the lather is facilitated.

From the above description it will be apparent that a relatively simple and yet strong, durable and eflicient implement is provided for the purposes intended.

I am aware that various changes could be made in the above described constructions, and that many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:---

1. A bathing implement of the kind described, comprising an elongated band of absorbent material arranged in at least two plies suitably secured together, said band having a soap receiving pocket between the plies thereof and located substantially centrally between the end portions 75 thereof, the longitudinal margins of the plies at one side of the band contiguous to said pocket being unconnected to provide an entrance mouth communicating with the pocket interior, elastic means threaded through said unconnected ply margins with the ends thereof anchored to the band, said elastic means being under suflicient tension to normally but yieldably hold said unconnected margins together thereby to close the pocket mouth, and spreader means transversely disposed and affixed between the plies adjacent to the sides of said pocket.

2. A bathing implement of the kind described, comprising an elongated band of absorbent material arranged in at least two plies suitably secured together, said band having a soap receiving pocket between the plies thereof and located substantially centrally between the end portions thereof, the longitudinal margins of the plies at one side of the band contiguous to said pocket being unconnected to provide an entrance mouth communicating with the pocket interior, elastic means threaded through said unconnected ply margins with the ends thereof anchored to the band, said elastic means being under sufilcient tension to normally but yieldably hold said unconnected margins together thereby to close the pocket mouth, and stitching joining said plies to define said pocket, said stitching extending from one end to the other of said pocket mouth in a substantially U-shaped line spaced from the opposite longitudinal margin of the band, whereby the bottom of said pocket is located intermediate the longitudinal margins of said band to dispose and hold a soap cake inserted therein intermediate such margins.

3. A bathing implement of the kind described, comprising an elongated band of absorbent material arranged in at least two plies suitably secured together, said band having a soap receiving pocket between the plies thereof, longitudinal margins of the plies at one side of the band contiguous to the pocket being unconnected to provide a pocket mouth, means for yieldably retaining said unconnected margins closed together thereby to close the pocket, and stitching joining said plies to define said pocket, said stitching extending from one end to the other of said pocket mouth in a substantially U-shaped line spaced from the opposite longitudinal margin of the band, whereby the bottom of said pocket is located intermediate the longitudinal margins of the band to dispose and hold a soap cake inserted therein intermediate such margins.

4. A bathing implement of the kind described, comprising an elongated band of absorbent material arranged in at least two plies suitably secured together, said band having a soap receiving pocket between the plies thereof, longitudinal margins of the plies at one side of the band contiguous to the pocket being unconnected to provide a pocket mouth, means for yieldably retaining said unconnected margins closed together thereby to close the pocket, stitching joining said plies to define said pocket, said stitching extending from one end to the other of said pocket mouth in a substantially U-shaped line spaced from the opposite longitudinal margin of the band, whereby the bottom of said pocket is located intermediate the longitudinal margins of the band to dispose and hold a soap cake inserted therein intermediate such margins, and comparatively rigid spreader strips transversely disposed and afllxed between said band plies adjacent to the sides of said pocket.

EDWARD G. SCI-IAEFER. 

